Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Woman: Help! Help!

Man's voice: "Think before you read, for you must decide

whether to be wise, and leave well alone,

or surrender to the greed of curiosity,

and discover a new world of knowledge

that would stagger Satan himself.

Welcome, my friend."

My name is Dr. Henry Jekyll

and this is my story...

or should I say, confession?

I was born in the year 1846 into a wealthy family.

And after a privileged education,

I followed my father into the antiquated world of medicine.

I am one of the most respected and eminent of doctors...

a gentleman. But like many a gentleman,

I have suppressed my true feelings

in order that I might take my rightful place in society.

Nobody but me knows my true nature.

The public have only seen a veneer of my true self.

Like everybody in society,

I have learned to play my part to perfection.

Jekyll: Morning, ladies and gentlemen.

I am glad to see that so many of you should think me interesting enough

to attend one of St. Mary's Hospital's public lectures.

Today's subject being...

"The Human Brain and Emotions of Man."

However, if I may,

I should like to divert your attentions away from the advertised program

and present to you a few new theories of my own.

Let us slice away

at the truth.

[squishing, crackling]

Are you squeamish?

Man: Dr. Jekyll?

Man #2: It has come to the board's attention

that you've been lecturing on some medical theories that are your own.

Man: And not the generally accepted

or medical opinions of this hospital.

Is this true?

True.

Perhaps you would like to explain to us the reason why.

There's nothing to explain, gentlemen.

I am merely stating a different point of view.

And you don't think that's dangerous?

Dangerous?

Why should I?

Chairman: You are the son of the founder of this hospital,

a man of influence.

The general public might be

unduly impressed by such personal opinions.

Or should we say, flights of fancy?

There is nothing fanciful about my work, gentlemen.

Maybe so. Nevertheless...

you cannot be serious in your latest application.

I cannot continue with my research

without the board's consent.

You wish to apply for the use of a hospital patient?

- That's monstrous. - A human guinea pig?

I wouldn't call it that.

And what would you call it, sir?

I'd call it progress.

I'm sorry, Dr. Jekyll.

From today, all funding of your research is terminated.

Good afternoon, Henry.

Afternoon.

All done. Come back and see me in a week's time.

Thanks. Thank you, Doctor.

Excuse me, sir. Thank you.

Well? What's the matter with you?

I'm angry.

Yes, I can see that. What about?

The hospital just turned down my research application.

Oh well, you surely didn't think they would agree?

I wanted to be given a chance, that's all.

The chance to play God?

No! The chance to... to change people's lives, perhaps forever.

And for that you'd be willing

to inject some poor soul with one of your chemical concoctions?

We're doctors, James! Scientists!

And there's a fine line to be drawn, Henry, between sanity and madness.

We make ourselves look different, James,

to help us feel we are different.

God has made us different, Henry.

We are not base, instinctive creatures.

We are noble beings.

Morality is sent from a higher power.

I have nothing in common

with a man who beats his wife.

The streets in this sad side of our city are a disgrace.

Every which way we turn, I'm appalled by the degradation,

the absolute poverty.

One thing I want to make clear:

when I'm elected as the parliamentary member

during the forthcoming general election,

I vow to rid us all of this sin-or-starve mentality.

Look around you, gentlemen, what do we see?

Women selling their bodies to eat,

children steeped in squalor.

Can we continue to allow this in a civilized society?

- I think not! -

What is your name, my child?

Mabel, sir.

Mabel. Is this where you live?

Yes.

You hear that, gentlemen? The place she calls home.

Ned Chandler, what you think you're doing?

What's it look like? I'm working!

Not on my clean table, you're not. Do it somewhere else.

- Good evening, Mrs. Bradley. - Good evening, sir.

Come inside, Mabel.

Dr. Jekyll is not at home, I believe?

Uh, no, sir. He's out tonight.

- Where's Mr. Poole? - Ned: He's reading.

The Sporting Life, sir. Sat on the toil...

- Mrs. Bradley: Ned! -

- What's the matter with him? - Mrs. Bradley: The usual.

- He's always playing daft. - Sir Danvers.

Poole. - Can I be of assistance?

I was hoping I could be of assistance to you, Poole.

Your master tells me that you're in need of a new housemaid.

- Oh, yes, sir! - Good.

Well, here she is.

Her hands are dirty.

So would yours be if you'd been sleeping on the streets, young man.

The streets?

This girl needs to find employment, Mrs. Bradley,

if she's to better herself. We've had a long talk

and I believe she's trustworthy and capable of hard work.

Have you ever worked in service before, girl?

- No, sir. - Poole?

You'd be doing me a personal favor, should you take her in.

I've stated publicly to the press

that I intend to work with the homeless.

Poole: I see.

Well, if Sir Danvers finds her suitable, how can we refuse?

Thank you, Poole. I'm most grateful.

Woman: Do you think Lord Hedley

will marry this person, Mr. Utterson?

I'm afraid so. I drew up their marriage contract this morning.

How vulgar.

Really, something should be done about it.

But a very lucrative market for my uncle, Lady Carew, don't you think?

A lawyer makes his living where he can, James.

Morals don't come into it.

But to marry an American girl... for money!

I believe it's very fashionable at the moment, my dear.

They have money, we have titles.

You seem rather solemn tonight, Henry.

Do I? I don't mean to be.

Henry is still smarting... over the hospital board's decision.

Oh are you, Henry? You poor thing.

Well, I think it quite silly.

Why should they stop you? What harm is he doing, dear?

Personally, I found your lecture absolutely fascinating.

- Didn't we, Sarah? - We did, Mother.

Although I didn't really understand a word of it.

Well, I'm glad to hear it.

What precisely have they stopped you doing?

James: They've stopped Henry from...

playing God.

Lady Carew: God? Is that all?

Well, they should have a word with my husband.

He plays God morning, noon and night.

I don't believe I'm playing God. I believe...

Please go on, Henry.

No, it doesn't matter.

Obviouslyit does.

Do continue. Please tell us.

Very well.

I believe that inside each and every one of us

there lie two beings...

a higher self and a lower self...

the dark and light constantly struggling to take control.

- Good and evil. - No, basic instinct!

- Oh, really, Henry... - A dual personality.

- you go too far sometimes. - Are you trying to tell us

- that we're all the same? - What I'm saying is...

The devil lurks inside every one of us.

Life makes us what we are.

Everything we experience, we become,

but underneath this fashionable, refined existence,

deep down inside, we remain what we once were.

We suppress our desires, we fear our natural natures.

And what are we, naturally?

- Animals! - Sarah: Animals?

I'm sorry, ma'am. Shall I scoop 'em up, sir?

No, leave them alone, girl. Go.

And how is this knowledge to help us, Henry?

- If I can separate our two natures... - Good and evil.

The dark from the light, and contain them,

then man would be free to live

from all that is corrupting in this world.

How do you propose to do that?

With a chemical compound that, once injected into the body,

would, I hope, control the darker side of our personalities.

The desire to lie, cheat, kill and murder

would cease to exist forever.

So that's why you requested

to experiment on a willing patient.

It's barbaric. God has given man free will